Saturday, April 30, 2011

Muhammad Alam Lohar was a prominent Punjabi folk music singer of Pakistan.He died in 1979 in an accident. He is also credited with popularizing the term and song Jugni. Alam Lohar was born in the small village of Aach Goach in Gujrat District, in Punjab, Pakistan into a family of blacksmiths. He was gifted with a melodious voice and began singing as a child. Alam Lohar developed a new style of singing the Punjabi Vaar, an epic or folk tale. He is famous for his rendition of Waris Shah’s Heer, which he has memorized in 36 styles and forms. He recorded his first album at the age of 13 and has outsold all other singers in Pakistan (Verified in records kept with HMV Pakistan 1979)

Alam Lohar - Jugni (classic original)

URL: http://youtu.be/0VuJ5_W-3eY

ALAM LOHAR - MIRZA MASSI KOL JANDA (ALAM LOHAR)

URL: http://youtu.be/Crnn37jWTak

In his childhood he used to read sufiana kalaams, Punjabi stories and participate as a young child in local elderly gatherings expressing a vocal only art form in reading passages of great poets. From many of the gatherings out of the rural background rose a great singer that could influence his audience with elements of joy peace, happiness and sadness. Further on: he started going to festivals and gatherings on a regular basis and within these performances he rose to become one of the most listened to singers in South Asia. In the 1970s it was the Queen's Jubilee event in the UK and there was a singing competition between all Commonwealth Countries and after all performances: Alam Lohar won the award as the best performance and was handed a gold medal for his unique and God given voice. Throughout the period of 1930's and until his passing away in 1979 he has dominated Folk singing in Pakistan and been a major singer in Punjabi and Sufi singing throughout the entire World. In many rural villages the local traditional people have called him 'Sher-e-Punjab' or 'Heerah' meaning diamond.

ALAM LOHAR - MEIN NEEL KARAIYAN (ALAM LOHAR)

URL: http://youtu.be/eJ1posqv6jg

Alongside his God given voice and singing in difficult high and low pitches he had a unique style of singing with his Chimta. Now the Chimta has been around for centuries as it was a tool used in gathering livestock in rural settings or used as a aid in other activities, but Alam Lohar has the unique credit that he single handedly popularised this instrument globally and modified its use and changed its outlook.

ALAM LOHAR - BURA KITTE SAHIBAN (ALAM LOHAR)

URL: http://youtu.be/n2vU84xlgJI

ALAM LOHAR - TOO JEEVAIN BARIWALEYA (ALAM LOHAR)

URL: http://youtu.be/zJwIipzvU7M

Other than being a famous singer, Alam lohar was also a great poet writing his own songs and kalaams and also had another quality that he used old books of Sufi saints and stories and brought them in a song format: which gave his songs overwhelming great lyrical content which could make people cry and express joy at the same time. The word "Jugni" was his creation and he created this term from reading many Sufi writings and represented this word as a spiritual feeling of ones experience of the world. Furthermore he was the pioneer of introducing the writings of Saif Ul Mulook and Mirza Shabaan in a song format.

ALAM LOHAR - BOLE AKBAR BADSHAH (ALAM LOHAR)

URL: http://youtu.be/mOSRJprgWcc

Alam Lohar had another quality that he had overwhelming singing stamina - he was renowned to sing all night and sometimes without the music technology we have with PA systems now-nevertheless his strong voice could be heard in large gatherings. In rural punjab he used to sing from village to village and without any modern music technology: his voice reflected with the background of the natural echo caused by the stillness of the night. In essence, later on Alam Lohar organised a full-fledged theatre with a complete orchestra. His troupe toured all over Punjab for religious and seasonal festivals and was one of the first Pakistani as well as South Asian singers to sing internationally in almost all countries that had people from the South Asian region.

ALAM LOHAR - LIVE - AYE ISHQ DA ROG AWALLA AYE (Baba Bullay Shah)

URL: http://youtu.be/u7P6myajv8Q

Alam Lohar died in an accident near Sham ki Bhaitiyan on July 3, 1979. He was laid to rest in Lala Musa, Punjab, Pakistan. He was given the Pride of Performance award in 1979 by General Zia Ul Haq in Islamabad and has received numerous awards within his lifetime. He is a pioneer in cultural and Folk styled singing and has in his own right become a folk story. He set a bench mark and many Punjabi and other folk singers have greatly been influenced. Therefore he has left a great legacy of a unique style of singing which is still followed in Pakistan by Punjabi as well as other folk singers. One of the greatest singers of all time: he is seen and remembered through his son Arif Lohar who has continued in the same tradition. May he rest in Peace - & May God grant him Peace - Alam Lohar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alam_Lohar

KARACHI: The central leader of PML-N, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa has announced his party’s complete support for strike call by Sindh Nationalist elements against heavy irregularities and fake entries in Karachi census. Talking to journalists after his talks with chairman Safe Sindh Movement (SSM), Syed Shah Mahmood Shah, Khosa said that his main objective of Karachi visit was in response to vandalizing of PML-N’s Karachi office, which was easy ‘to respond’ in kind; but however PML-N would rather give a befitting reply of the act in political arena. He said that Mina Shahbaz Sharif’s statement was presented as against its context, after which this act of vandalizing of PML-N office, and Provincial leader’s restaurant; both of which rekindled a deja-vu of Musharraf regime, ironically amid a democratic setup.

PML (Nawaz) Worker Attack Each other

Jalal Mahmood Shah Interview

URL: http://youtu.be/cxwn0F3iAqg

Sayed Jalal Mehmood Shah Exclusive interview on Dawn News Part 1.flv

URL: http://youtu.be/mkD9pwgZxI4

Nationalist alliance lashes out at PPP By Our Staff Correspondent | From the Newspaper January 8, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/08/nationalist-alliance-lashes-out-at-ppp.html Magsi sees nationalists as alternative to PPP By Mohammad Hussain Khan | From the Newspaper March 23, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/23/magsi-sees-nationalists-as-alternative-to-ppp.html

Sayed Jalal Mehmood Shah Exclusive interview on Dawn News Part 2.flv

URL: http://youtu.be/bew23T0mte8

Nationalist alliance lashes out at PPP By Our Staff Correspondent | From the Newspaper January 8, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/08/nationalist-alliance-lashes-out-at-ppp.html Magsi sees nationalists as alternative to PPP By Mohammad Hussain Khan | From the Newspaper March 23, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/23/magsi-sees-nationalists-as-alternative-to-ppp.html

Sayed Jalal Mehmood Shah Exclusive interview on Dawn News Part 3.flv

URL: http://youtu.be/u-w23Aw1w98

Nationalist alliance lashes out at PPP By Our Staff Correspondent | From the Newspaper January 8, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/08/nationalist-alliance-lashes-out-at-ppp.html Magsi sees nationalists as alternative to PPP By Mohammad Hussain Khan | From the Newspaper March 23, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/23/magsi-sees-nationalists-as-alternative-to-ppp.html

Sayed Jalal Mehmood Shah Exclusive interview on Dawn News Part 4.flv

URL: http://youtu.be/ws4wzjf3NbU

Nationalist alliance lashes out at PPP By Our Staff Correspondent | From the Newspaper January 8, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/08/nationalist-alliance-lashes-out-at-ppp.html Magsi sees nationalists as alternative to PPP By Mohammad Hussain Khan | From the Newspaper March 23, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/23/magsi-sees-nationalists-as-alternative-to-ppp.html

He also reiterated PML-N’s resolve to pinpoint all irregularities and fake entries, committed in the first phase of census and those responsible would be unveiled as well. Announcing PML-N’s full support for call of strike by Sindhi nationalist elements, over disregard for their evidences regarding irregularities and fake entries in census, and warned that if these irregularities and fake actions were also carried out in Punjab, these would also be dealt with, by calling for strike in Punjab. He strongly rejected, that Punjab CM, Mian Shahbaz Sharif had ever talked of making a separate province out of Karachi City, as one cannot even think of changing its name; and said that PML-N supported provinces based on ethnic and administrative divisions. Replying to a question regarding Kalabagh Dam, he said that Mian Nawaz Sharif had already clarified his stance over the National issue, that he would never support the dam, until all Provinces agreed over a joint consensus.

Rasul Bux Palijo ; SANA Sindh convention 2005 Part 1

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNka4sSDQqI

Earlier the chairman SSM, Syed Shah Mahmood Shah thanked the support of PML-N over the census issue, and declared that such interaction was best for the integrity and harmony of Pakistan. He lamented that Sindh had been totally being handed over to terrorists as a hostage City, while after successful strike, special terrorist and criminal elements were threatening the traders’ community with dire consequences, warning that any tampering with the strike would elicit a Nationwide strike call. On the occasion, the chairman census monitoring committee formed by nationalist, Jalal Mahmood Shah berated bogus entries in census details, while much of Karachi entries were forcefully forged. REFERENCE: Khosa declares PML-N’s support for strike call by Sindh Nationalist elements against irregularities in Karachi census

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=178462

Rasul Bux Palijo ; SANA Sindh convention 2005 Part 2

URL: http://youtu.be/hrcKgQNeD8Y

Islamabad: The leader of PML(N) Mian Nawaz Sharif has constituted a committee to remove the apprehensions of the Sindhi nationalist leaders on the statement of Shahbaz Sharif about making Karachi a separate province. The five member committee would be lead by the leader of PML(N)) and former Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed . The other members of the committee will be Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Ismail Rao and Saleem Zia . Nawaz Sharif has given the task to the committee to contact all the nationalist leaders hailed from Sindh. The committee would meet nationalist leaders of Sindh today(Friday) and take them into confidence regarding the statement of Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif so as their anxiety may be finished. It is pertinent to mention here that on the statement of Shahbaz Sharif about the division of Sindh , strong reaction was seen which resulted in ransacking of office of PML(N) at Karachi besides setting on fire the portraits of Sharif brothers. REFERENCE: PML-N committee formed to contact nationalist Sindhi leaders on Shahbaz’s statement

“This House recommends to Government to convey to His Majesty’s Government through His Excellency the Viceroy, the sentiments and wishes of the Muslims of this Province that whereas Muslims of India are a separate nation possessing religion, philosophy, social customs, literature, traditions, political and economic theories of their own, quite different from those of Hindus, they are justly entitled to the right, as a single, separate nation, to have independent national states of their own, craved out in the zones where they are in majority in the sub-continent of India.

“Whereas they emphatically declare that no constitution shall be acceptable to them that will place the Muslims under a Central Government dominated by another nation, as in order the order of things to come, it is necessary for them to have independent National States of their own and hence any attempt to subject the Muslims of India under one Central Government is bound to result in Civil War with grave unhappy consequences.”

Walkout by Hindu Members

The Honourable mover of the resolution stated that his resolution was intended to convey the views and sentiments of only the Mussalmans of Sind and not of the entire population of Sind. The Chair also held that it was only the wish of the Mussalmans of Sind which was going to be conveyed by this resolution. In view of this ruling of the Chair that the Hindus had no interest in the resolution and that it was only the religion and sentiments of the Mussalmans of Sind that were to be conveyed through it, the following Hindu members left the House.

The Historical Pakistan Resolution was passed by the Sindh Legislative Assembly on 3rd March, 1943 during the Session, out of 38 Members 24 Members favoured and 3 Members opposed the Pakistan Resolution.

ISLAMABAD, July 29: The political crisis in Balochistan on Wednesday ended with the decision of Chief Minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal to step down after the federal government declined to give him any further support. Mr Mengal chose to take the bitter decision after a series of meetings here throughout the day between a team of federal ministers, headed by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and thePML MPAs of Balochistan. Protracted talks between the two sides, mediated by therepresentatives of the federal government, broke down on Wednesday night after which Mr Mengal informed the aides to the prime minister that he would relinquish his post.

Rasul Bux Palijo ; SANA Sindh convention 2005 Part 3

URL: http://youtu.be/Uz3mxO8ObpQ

His removal as chief minister came after he had survived an abortive no-trust motion tabled against him by the PML-MPAs and later a revolt within his own Balochistan National Party (BNP) some days ago. The aides to the prime minister are believed to have conveyed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the decision of Mr Mengal. They have also given a go-ahead signal to the PML MPAs to reach consensus ona new leader of the house. "The game is over and all of us may be leaving for Quetta tomorrow to win support for a new face," Saleh Bhotani, a PML MPA, told Dawn on Wednesday night. Earlier, all hopes that Mr Mengal would win over PML MPAs to avert collapse of his government had dimmed when the MPAs disregarded mediation by the federal government and refused to lend him any support.

Rasul Bux Palijo ; SANA Sindh convention 2005 Part 4

URL: http://youtu.be/MhGETBU0YOs

There were day-long meetings to the effect as the aides to the prime minister shuttled between Mr Mengal and the PML MPAs. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had specially arrived here to intervene but he left for Lahore after the talks broke down. Mr Mengal, however, said at the meeting that he would not leave the ground open for the opposition and fight to the end. Soon after the meetings in the capital were over, he went into a session with some of his confidants in the Balochistan House. Meanwhile, the PML MPAs are preparing to end their week-long stay in Islamabad and are expected to leave for Quetta to contact other parties represented in the Balochistan Assembly. Sardar Saleh Bhotani confirmed that the MPAs might be leaving on Thursday to look for a new beginning. REFERENCE: Mengal resigns as centre refuses to extend support DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending: 01 August 1998 Issue:04/30 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/01Aug98.html#meng

Rasul Bux Palijo ; SANA Sindh convention 2005 Part 5

URL: http://youtu.be/0OgUTjiGx-8

ISLAMABAD, June 11: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced on Thursday his national agenda that sought to recover over 1.25 million acres of land from landlords to be distributed among landless peasants, construction of Kalabagh dam, imposition of the GST, recovery of loans from defaulters and selling of state-owned property including the PM secretariat and the PM house. Announcing the national agenda on radio and television he vowed to implement his plans even if he had to amend the constitution and said he would not brook any opposition in this behalf.

Front Line - 19th feb 2010 - Qadir Magsi - Part 1

URL: http://youtu.be/EmKuDz7DpXM

Unfolding his agenda, the prime minister said that agriculture sector would be given maximum attention and the lands in possession of landlords in violation of agriculture land reforms would be taken back and distributed among poor peasants. He said 1.25 million acres of lands had been identified which would be recovered forcefully if the occupants failed to return them voluntarily. About the Kalabagh dam, he said, it would be constructed. Mr Sharif said he had decided to earmark Rs40 billion for giving loans to farmers on easy terms during the next financial year compared to Rs30 billion in 1997-98. The price of agricultural machinery would be reduced in order to boost agriculture production, he said adding that the cost of each tractor had been reduced by Rs100,000. In addition to that sales tax on bulldozers, harvesters combined and other machinery had been withdrawn. He said that he had frozen foreign currency accounts with a heavy heart because it was in the national interest. He said he was happy that nobody complained against the freezing of his accounts by the government. The prime minister called upon Pakistanis living in the country and abroad to give generous donations to help the country tide over the financial problems cropped up in the wake of sanctions. The prime minister offered to pay back all loans outstanding against Ittefaq group and said he would offer Ittefaq group's assets to banks so that the loans could be recovered by them.

Front Line - 19th feb 2010 - Qadir Magsi - Part 2

URL: http://youtu.be/xOzJy3jhCrM

The prime minister announced that overseas Pakistanis would be offered 25,000 plots in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar which they could acquire by paying in foreign currency. "Those Pakistanis who would transfer $100,000 by Sept 30 through banks will be allowed to purchase duty free goods worth up to Rs400,000", he said. Likewise, those who would remit $50,000 would be entitled to buy duty free goods worth Rs200,000. He said that overseas Pakistanis would be issued 100-page passports so that they do not face problems in their renewal every now and then. They will be charged $150 for the new passport. The prime minister also appealed to the Pakistanis living abroad to send $1000 to their relatives through banks and not through Hundi.

Front Line - 19th feb 2010 - Qadir Magsi - Part 3

URL: http://youtu.be/WYAgen6q-IA

Mr Sharif said he had decided to ensure education for every child in the country and appealed to the people to bear the expenses for theeducation of at least one child outside their family. Uneducated youth, he said, would be given loans ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs300,000. Diploma and degree holders could seek loan up to Rs5 million to set up cottage industry. He said he had already announced to quit the prime minister's secretariat and now he had decided to vacate the prime minister house in Islamabad. "The PM secretariat will be sold while the PM house will be made a guest house", he said. "Similarly, a decision has been taken to convert governor houses into guest houses to save undue expenditure. We have decided to sell all state guest houses in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi and spend the money for debt retirement," the prime minister said. All official residences at tehsil and headquarters level would be sold and money collected thus would be spent on providing basis facilities to the people. He said that 50 per cent reduction in expenditure had already been announced and now the government planned to reduce 50 per cent staff of Pakistani missions abroad.

Front Line - 19th feb 2010 - Qadir Magsi - Part 4

URL: http://youtu.be/Z-qR6K_Ed_4

Front Line - 19th feb 2010 - Qadir Magsi - Part 5

URL: http://youtu.be/mndKo-EX_X4

The prime minister said that in line with the austerity drive all official purchases had been stopped and no new car, furniture, refrigerator and air conditioner would be purchased. Fifty per cent cut had also been imposed on the purchase of stationery. All foreign trips of government officers had been banned and no official ceremony would take place in any hotel. He appealed to the people to curtail the use of tea and imported oil to save precious foreign exchange. He said a decision had been taken to replace what he termed "rotten and old tax system". "All the black sheep in the tax department will be thrown out of government offices", he declared. The prime minister also announced the levy of GST and said details would be announced by the finance minister in his budget speech on Friday.

Front Line - 19th feb 2010 - Qadir Magsi - Part 6

URL: http://youtu.be/Xnan3kgZZsI

He said the government of Sindh and Balochistan had been directed to enact a law for the recovery of agriculture tax. This tax would also be recovered in Punjab and elsewhere, he added. The prime minister gave four weeks to defaulters to return their loans failing which action would be taken against them. Mr Sharif called for discouraging smuggling and appealed to shopkeepers to stop selling smuggled goods. Issuing a warning to utility bill defaulters he said that those who failed to pay their electricity and gas bills would be sent to jails and the money would be recovered by selling their property. The prime minister said that after conducting nuclear tests time had come to offer sacrifices for the larger national interest. Mr Sharif declared that Kalabagh dam would be constructed and said that " we surprised the entire world by conducting a nuclear test on May 28, we would surprise the nation by undertaking this huge project." He said that despite problems, national defence would be strengthened at all costs. He said Pakistan had joined the nuclear club of seven countries which was not an ordinary matter. REFERENCE: Kalabagh Dam will be built, says Nawaz Bureau Report DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending: 13 June 1998 Issue : 04/23 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/13Jun98.html#kala

Jawab Deyh - 21st March 2010 - Dr Qadir Magsi - Part 1

URL: http://youtu.be/CqkO-quyKzQ

Jawab Deyh - 21st March 2010 - Dr Qadir Magsi - Part 2

URL: http://youtu.be/II8iKWJcNE4

QUETTA, June 12: The Pakistan Muslim League filed a no-confidence motion against Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Mohammad Akhtar Mengal on Friday. "I received a notice about the no-trust motion against the chief minister late Thursday night," Speaker Mir Abdul Jabbar told Dawn. The no-trust notice was given by members of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), a coalition partner of the Mengal government,following serious differences on various issues, including the nuclear tests conducted at Chaghi district of Balochistan. The motion was signed by 11 PML members, including six ministers of the party, the speaker said. "After receiving the no-trust motion notice against the chief minister, I have summoned the assembly session on June 15 at 11 am," the speaker said. He said he had also received another notice signed by 11 MPAs of PML and the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) for the requisition of an assembly session.

LONDON, June 14: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday that the government would take into confidence political parties of the "smaller provinces" over the construction of Kalabagh dam and try to convince them about the utility of the project. "We will try to remove their fears over the construction of the dam by explaining to them technical details of the dam," the prime minister told reporters after holding a meeting with MQM chief Altaf Hussain at a hotel in London. Mr Altaf Hussain told reporters that the issue was discussed at Sunday's meeting and he had expressed MQM's reservations over it. "I emphasized upon the prime minister that he should take the elected political parties of smaller provinces into confidence and that a national consensus should be built before embarking on the project," the MQM chief said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, however, said all the provinces would benefit from the project. "All rural and urban areas will benefit from this dam," he said. "It will be beneficial for the Frontier, Punjab and Sindh alike."

Ayaz Latif Palejo talking about MQM too

URL: http://youtu.be/jFowiZ-BkTM

He said work on the dam had been delayed because of political reasons and that he would brief all smaller provinces about the importance of the project. "During my meeting I told the prime minister that there should be a consensus on the issue and even smaller political parties which had been elected in the past should be consulted and briefed about the project," Mr Altaf said. Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the MQM chief held an hour-long talks. The first 45-minute session was attended, on the government side, by Information Minister Mushahid Hussain and Minister of State for Water and Power, Mr Haleem Siddiqi. From the MQM side, Altaf Hussain's political adviser Nusrat Nadeem, Senator Mustafa Kamal and MNA Farrukh Naeem attended the first Session. The second 20-minute session was a one-to-one meeting between the prime minister and Altaf Hussain. An MQM spokesman told Dawn that during the first session, the prime minister briefed the MQM chief about the steps taken by the government, particularly the austerity measures, to face the economic hardships. He said the prime minister painted an overall view of Pakistan's economic situation and explained how the package announced by him would help the country gear up the hard days ahead. "Mr Altaf Hussain also took this opportunity to congratulate the prime minister, Pakistani scientists and the Pakistani nation for exploding nuclear devices," the spokesman said. He said cooperation between the two parties at the national and provincial level was also discussed and Mr Altaf expressed concern over the recent spate of killings in Karachi. He said a list of MQM workers who were killed this month in Karachi, was handed over to the prime minister. REFERENCE: Provinces to be convinced on dam issue: PM Correspondent http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/20Jun98.html#prov

Dr Magsi has obviously not been challenged to defend his stance rationally. It is a measure of his isolation from the federation that he was not prepared to answer certain questions effectively. He has too long been talking to people who want him to say what he says. It is also a measure of how the federation is allowing the ‘nationalists’ to become isolated in their own provinces

When states develop in a lopsided manner the aggrieved parts evolve extreme worldviews. It usually means that, after having complained a lot without proper redress, elements in the smaller provinces no longer wish to communicate. They posit conditions that the federation cannot fulfil without undoing itself, or so it thinks. The ‘nationalists’ of Sindh and Balochistan tend to think like the ‘nationalists’ of East Pakistan of yore. They represent the emotional, not the rational, side of the people in the two provinces. And that is very significant.

GEO (August 31, 2004) Iftikhar Ahmad interviewed Sindhi nationalist leader of Taraqqi Pasand Party Dr Qadir Magsi in his Jawabdeh programme. Dr Magsi said there was a state of war between three provinces on the one hand and Punjab on the other. When asked whether his party abided by the 1991 water accord between Punjab and Sindh, Dr Magsi was not sure. He was not sure whether the Sindh Assembly had accepted it. He said the Sindh chief minister then was a Sindhi but acting at the behest of Punjab ruling at the Centre. Dr Magsi said he wanted Sindh to be azad and khud mukhtar (independent and sovereign/autonomous). He said elections in Sindh were suspect because of horse-trading and that Sindh Assembly was not representative. He said he wanted Pakistan to be a federation of azad riyasatain (independent/autonomous states) but not a confederation. It should be federation of five nations (quamain) including muhajir as the fifth one. He said for this a new constitution was needed and for framing a new constitution elections for a constituent assembly should be held. He said he did not accept the present Constitution.

It was an excellent interview by Iftikhar Ahmad. Dr Magsi has obviously not been challenged to defend his stance rationally. It is a measure of his isolation from the federation that he was not prepared to answer certain questions effectively. He has too long been talking to people who want him to say what he says. It is also a measure of how the federation is allowing the ‘nationalists’ to become isolated in their own provinces. This leads to a spiral of extremism that comes to the fore only when a dialogue like the one on Geo is seen by all the people of the country. He obviously doesn’t yet want to raise the matter of a confederation but wants the federation to be loose enough to make the units almost as autonomous as confederal units. Such an obfuscation is possible because no confederation is actually functioning successfully in the world today.

When asked about the 1973 Constitution, Dr Magsi said he and his party had protested against the 1973 Constitution after it was passed by all the parties. He said the new Constitution should contain no provincial and federal list of subjects. Only defence, finance and foreign policy should be with the Centre. When told that all over the world federation had a list of subjects, he said that the Highway in Sindh earned a lot of money but its toll went to the federal government. He said he was opposed to earnings from Sindhi land going to the Centre. He said Punjab had all the population which means Sindhis could never get their rights through legislation at the Centre. He said he wanted Sindh to have the pre-1947 shanakht (identity).

The 1973 constitution contains more provincial autonomy than any other past constitution and there is a possibility in it to expand the provincial rights without breaking it. The rejection of the 1973 constitution is therefore a part of the rejectionist aspect of the ‘nationalist’ reaction. Dr Magsi recognises indirectly the inconvenience of having Punjab represent over 60 percent of the population but he will not consider more provinces in Pakistan if that also means creating more provinces out of Sindh. Indirectly that implies his support to Punjab to continue as it is.

Dr Magsi said he entered politics in 1982. He was originally a Baloch but was a naturalised Sindhi. He said he would not allow the division of Sindh to create another province for muhajirs. He said muhajirs could become Sindhis like him. He claimed that muhajirs were accepted in Sindh after they had been rejected by Punjab. When the refugees from the UP came to the railway station in Lahore the Punjabis stood there telling them Pakistan agay hai (Pakistan is at the next station). When asked where he had read this, he said that GM Syed had written it in his book. He said the muhajirs had not made Pakistan as claimed by them just as the Afghan refugees had not made Pakistan. When told that his party had asked for Rs 100 billion to be paid to Sindh, he did not remember the charter of his party. He was upset about questions asked about Nabeela Shah, a worker of his party whose father had accused Magsi of having exploited her and killed her in 1996. The host said that his party had claimed in 1998 that she was alive and living with her lover. Dr Magsi said that Nabeela belonged to his party but she left it and got married but this marriage had not worked and she had got a divorce. He said he was never formally charged with her murder.

It is certain that Dr Magsi has been talking only to the Sindhis. Partition literature doesn’t prove his point. The Punjabis did not force UP refugees to go to Sindh. In fact there is evidence to the contrary. The UP refugees were from an area in India which took them in as state employees. Karachi as the capital attracted them because there were more salaried jobs there in state and private sectors. ENDS

HYDERABAD: Syed Naseer Hussain Shah, father of Nabeela Shah, on the second day of his token hunger strike in front of the Hyderabad Press Club appealed to Abdul Sattar Edhi to guard the body of his daughter till it was exhumed and reburied in Khairpur. He claimed that it was the indifferent attitude of the government which had forced him to observe hunger strike. Speaking to journalists, Nasser Shah said he feared that Magsi’s men might dig up the body buried by the Edhi volunteers in Mochko Goth graveyard and hide it. He also criticised the role of ‘A Police’ Khairpur for not acting on the FIR in which STPP chief Dr Qadir Magsi and two others had been nominated as accused of murdering his daughter Nabeela Shah. Dr Qadir Magsi made good his escape from his long march after the publication of the photos of Nabeela Shah’s body in some newspapers. He added that this step of Dr Magsi had proved that he was the real killer of his daughter. He claimed that if the agencies were not backing him, Dr Qadir Magsi would have been arrested before taking part in his long march. REFERENCE: Edhi asked to protect Nabeela Shah’s body DAWN / NEWS International, Karachi 30 March 1998 Monday 01 Zilhaj 1418 http://www.karachipage.com/news/mar98/033098.txt

THATTA, March 21: The body of a Sindhi literary figure, Nabeela Shah (27), was identified by her relatives who visited Edhi centre and a police station here on Saturday. The victim had been missing since May 29, 1996, and her father, Syed Naseer Hussain Shah, at a recent news conference at Hyderabad Press Club, had alleged that Dr Qadir Magsi, chairman of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, was involved in the affair. He had claimed that she had gone with Dr Magsi when he visited her home in Khairpur on May 28, 1996, and that her whereabouts were not known since then. Dr Magsi and other STPP leaders have rejected the allegation, saying the whole story had been concocted to sabotage the party’s long march, started on Saturday from Sukkur, and to defame the party chairman. REFERENCE: Nabeela’s murder confirmed DAWN / NEWS International, Karachi 22 March 1998 Sunday 22 Ziqa’ad 1418 http://www.karachipage.com/news/mar98/032298.txt

A person is known by the company he keep and I am talking about Hamid Gul:)

A blast from the past read the names in All Pakistan Democratic Movement: ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on Tuesday decided to launch a campaign against the January 8 elections after Eidul Azha. The decision was taken at the national conference of the alliance held here under the chairmanship of APDM Convener Mahmood Khan Achakzai. President of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Dr. Qadir Magsi, Dr. Abdul Hayee Baloch, Abid Hassan Minto, Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Rasul Bakhsh Palejo, Hamid Khan, Hamid Gul and others attended the conference. APDM to launch poll boycott drive after Eid Wednesday December 19, 2007 (0902 PST) http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?195670Politics is about public and masses and a person is known by the company he keeps. Those who attended the meeting also included Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, Dr Qadir Magsi, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Rasul Baksh Palejo, Syed Muhammad Bilal, Abid Hassan Minto, Nawaz Gondal, Hamid Gul, Abdul Majeed Hazarvi, Mian Muhammad Aslam, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Chaudhry Tanvir, Sardar Naseem, Nawaz Gondal, Abul Khair Zubair, Zahid Khan and others. APDM announces polls boycott Sets four-day deadline for acceptance of demands Sunday, November 25, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/print3.asp?id=11362The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) name was ok but what Hamid Gul was doing in it???? Should we forget Nazir Abbasi, Thori Phatak, Military Operation in Moro, K N Shah, Mehar, Dadu and Lakhat during MRD Days, above all should we forget Hamid Gul’s proverbial hate towards Sindhis. [Introduction of Hamid Gul: Hamid Gul callling Baitullah Mehsud and Faqir Muhammad “Mujahids” http://criticalppp.com/archives/20304Lt Gen (retd) Hameed Gul told The News that like Ms Bhutto, Maulana Fazl has also cut a deal with the Americans and was playing a dubious political role as per the script written by the US. He said that in the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) meeting, Hafiz Hussain Ahmad had assured the opposition leaders that the Maulana had given his assent to the resignation move. Benazir, Fazl doing US bidding Sunday, September 23, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/print3.asp?id=10263General Hamid Gul [APDM] was saying that Benazir Bhutto was an American Agent whereas read Dr Qadir Magsi [APDM] says— HYDERABAD, Jan 7: The Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party chairman, Dr Qadir Magsi, has said that PPP leader Benazir Bhutto was the symbol of federation and her murder was ‘tantamount to murder of Pakistan,’ adding that Pakistan has now become alien for Sindhis. HYDERABAD: Benazir was symbol of federation, says Magsi Bureau Report January 08, 2008

Human Memory is weak and when one is prejudiced then it is more detrimental and that is the case of Mr. Kamran Khan, Senior Correspondent Jang Group of Newspapers/The News International and GEO TV [Judge, Jury & Executioner]. Nowadays "Kamran Khan, Jang Group of Newspapers, GEO TV, and The News International "advising" Nawaz Sharif for the Long March whereas 11 Years ago read what Kamran Khan had filed in The News International/Daily Jang and most hilarious thing is that after 11 Years the same Jang Group [GEO TV] is denying through [Jawab Deyh with Iftikhar Ahmad] their own Chief Correspondent Kamran Khan and his Lies which he used to file under-captioned "The News Intelligence Unit".

"QUOTE"

KARACHI: Less than four dozen individuals from Central Punjab, who had either lived or served in Lahore in the past 15 years, are currently holding the country's 41 most important official assignments -- a situation that is bound to aggravate the prevailing sense of deprivation not only in the three smaller provinces but also in Southern Punjab, according to an investigation by the News Intelligence Unit (NIU). The situation took a delicate turn late on Monday night when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stunned the federal cabinet by announcing that he had decided to nominate the former Supreme Court judge and a known Sharif family friend, Mr Justice (retd) Rafiq Ahmed Tarar, as the president of Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took the decision to appoint a Central Punjabi president against strong recommendations from his cabinet members, parliamentary party members and even his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, urging him to pick a presidential candidate from smaller provinces, the sources said. The NIU investigation found that before Senator Tarar's nomination as the president, at least 41 individuals -- mostly with permanent residences in Lahore -- were holding almost all of the, what an independent observer labelled as, "make-or-break appointments" in the country. The NIU study showed that though all of these appointments were not made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but under his nine-month-old administration the domination and influence of Central Punjabis over the government departments multiplied manifold. With the election of Justice Rafiq Tarar as the president of Pakistan by the end of this month, the country would have a Lahore-based president, prime minister and chairman Senate. Although Justice Tarar hails from Wazirabad near Lahore, he has lived most of his life in Lahore and is believed to be a personal friend and constitutional and legal adviser to the Sharif family. Both Nawaz Sharif and Wasim Sajjad have lived their personal and professional lives in Lahore, where their families are permanently settled.

Seniority, merit and professionalism may have been the criterion, but the fact remains that all three present services chiefs incidentally have Central Punjab background. The present Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Fasih Bukhari, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P Q Mehdi had been appointed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while Chief of Army Staff General Jehangir Karamat was selected by President Farooq Ahmed Leghari. The present government handed dual charge of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to Gen Karamat. When Nawaz assumed the charge of the prime minister in February this year, each and every member of his personal team at the Prime Minister's Office had a Central Punjab, particularly Lahore, background. He appointed seasoned civil servant and a scion of a known Lahore family, A K Z Sherdil, as his principal secretary. Because of his Lahore background, Sherdil was personally known to Saifur Rahman Khan, who had initially suggested his name to the prime minister. Even before Sherdil's appointment, Nawaz had decided to appoint another former civil servant, Anwer Zahid, as his special assistant. The Lahore-based Anwer Zahid was the principal secretary to the prime minister during Nawaz's first tenure. Closest in Nawaz Sharif's personal team at the Prime Minister's Secretariat was, and still is, Saifur Rahman Khan -- the chief of Ehtesab Cell. Saifur Rahman like Sherdil and Anwer Zahid, cherished his Lahore background. "The prime minister feels very comfortable with Sherdil, Zahid and Saif. They speak his mind and the language," noted an informed official. The prime minister not only favoured the individuals with Lahore background for top positions of his office, he invited the people with similar background even for mid-level posts in his personal setup. He appointed Rauf Chaudhry and Khayyam Qaiser as his personal staff officers and Qamaruzzaman as his personal secretary. These three personal staff members, like other senior aides in the Prime Minister's Office, have strong Central Punjab background. They not only manage the prime minister's days and weeks, but also serve as his eyes and ears.

Similarly, his Press Secretary Siddiqul Farooq has always lived and worked in Lahore and Central Punjab with no work experience in smaller provinces. The prime minister appointed another old Lahore hand and a former Ittefaq Group employee, Major General Sikander Hayat, as chief of the Prime Minister's Monitoring and Evaluation Cell. He appointed Colonel (retd) Mushtaq Taher Kheli, an individual of similar background, as his political secretary. With the accountability placed at the top of his priority list, Nawaz Sharif decided to operate through his most-trusted Lahore aides. While Senator Saifur Rahman was placed at the driving seat, Nawaz decided to continue with Justice (retd) Ghulam Mujaddid Mirza, another famous Lahorite, as the chief Ehtesab commissioner. He appointed another Central Punjab PML leader Mumtaz Ahmed Tarrar as the chief of Ehtesab Council. Not surprisingly, officials and politicians wanted or arrested in corruption cases from Punjab escaped the net laid by the much-dreaded Ehtesab Cell, while those arrested from Sindh faced a totally different situation. For instance, under extremely intriguing condition a corruption case registered against former RECP chairman Kabir Sheikh, a Lahore-based official, was hurriedly withdrawn. Under identical circumstances, the corruption charges against former petroleum secretary Capt Naseer Ahmed had been withdrawn.

While appointing the federal cabinet, Nawaz Sharif, once more, preferred his trusted Lahore and Central Punjab associates for important cabinet assignments such as commerce. Senior official sources conceded in their background interviews that because of his extreme closeness with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar's influence reaches frequently the decision-making levels in the Ministry of Finance. Because of his Lahore and Model Town connections, Ishaq Dar has emerged as the prime minister's most trusted aide in the federal cabinet. Dar's closeness with the prime minister can be gauged by the fact that it was he and Saifur Rahman who had negotiated and finalised the power-sharing agreement with the MQM. No PML member from Sindh was included in the team that had negotiated with the MQM after the change of government in February this year. Other Central Punjab PML parliamentarians who received important cabinet slots included Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan (Petroleum), Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (Interior), Mushahid Hussain (Information), Shaikh Rashid Ahmed (Labour and Culture), Begum Abida Hussain (Population Welfare), Raja Nadir Pervaiz (Water and Power), and Khalid Anwar (Law). Surprisingly, the entire national security team that is reporting to the prime minister on important security matters also has the similar Central Punjab background.

The present director generals of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) shared this common background. Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed and Major General (retd) Enayat Niazi had been appointed as the IB director general and the FIA director general, respectively by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while Lt Gen Nasim Rana had been appointed as the ISI director general by the Benazir Bhutto government. Smaller provinces were completely ignored over Central Punjab when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to appoint members of his party as heads of various government and public sector organisations. He appointed 37-year-old Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi, MNA from Murree, as the PIAC chairman and picked Khawaja Asif to head the Privatisation Commission. Similarly, Humayun Akhter Khan, the MNA from his home town Lahore, was appointed as the chief of Board of Investment (BoI). When it came to the appointment of the attorney general of Pakistan, the prime minister once again preferred a candidate from Lahore. Sources said that before his appointment as the Attorney General, Chaudhry Muhammad Farooq had long served the Sharif family in their business and family matters.

While selecting the team of bureaucrats for his government, the prime minister apparently decided not to disturb the officials with Lahore or Central Punjab background, notwithstanding the fact that they had been appointed by President Farooq Leghari during the caretaker set-up. In a policy decision, the prime minister decided to continue with Dr Muhammad Yaqub as the governor of State Bank of Pakistan, absolving him of his responsibility in the collapse of banking and DFI sector in Pakistan in the past four years. Similarly, he also decided to continue with Chaudhry Moeen Afzal as the secretary of finance and Hafizullah Ishaq as the chairman Board of Revenue -- both gentlemen had a Central Punjab background. The prime minister also appeared comfortable with Afzal Kahut as the establishment secretary and Mian Tayyab Hussain as the cabinet secretary.

The Central Punjab criteria apparently played a significant role as he appointed secretaries to some of the important ministries, for example he selected Mian Iqbal Fareed as the secretary commerce, Mehar Jivan Khan as the interior secretary and Gulfaraz Ahmed as the secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum. The Central Punjab may not exactly be the reason behind the appointment of Lt Gen (retd) Chaudhry Iftikhar Ali Khan as the secretary defence, but it may be the first time that no one from a smaller province is attached to any significant position in the entire Ministry of Defence. Like in Justice (retd) Rafiq Tarar's case, most observers do not dispute the fact that many of the Central Punjab bureaucrats or politicians given important tasks in the government by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif enjoy good reputation, but they do not believe that the smaller provinces cannot offer individuals with similar reputation and competence. These observers felt that to give a truly national look to his government, particularly after the election of Justice Tarrar as the president, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would have to go an extra-mile to neutralise the impression of his being the Central Punjab government. REFERENCE:Central Punjab holds 41 key posts - Disparity may deepen deprivation in smaller provinces - News Intelligence Unit By Kamran Khan The NEWS International, Karachi December 17, 1997 http://www.karachipage.com/news/punjab_rules.htm

ISLAMABAD, April 22: No operation would be launched to end "no-go" areas in Karachi, and the government instead would take administrative measures to ensure that no areas remain inaccessible to anybody. The government and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement both agreed that the issue could be solved through administrative measures rather than operation, said Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, minister for petroleum and provincial coordination, while talking to reporters here on Wednesday. Chaudhry Nisar, who had detailed talks with MQM leader Altaf Hussain in London, said he had found Mr Hussain very accommodating. He said the MQM had agreed not to issue any more ultimatums and deadlines in future to avoid misunderstandings between the two sides. Referring to his talks with Mr Hussain, he said all issues had been discussed with the MQM chief. He, however, said that no time limit had been fixed for ending "no-go" areas. Chaudhry Nisar said the two sides had agreed that rangers would stay in Karachi as long as lasting peace was not achieved. It was also decided that an elite force, on the pattern of Punjab, would be set up in Sindh to control the law and order problem. He said a decision had been taken during talks with the MQM leader that competent officers from other provinces would be inducted into the Sindh administration to improve the situation. Responding to a question, the petroleum minister said he was happy that the MQM leadership had agreed with him that rangers should stay in Karachi for the time being. "As long as the new elite force is not established and the police not strengthened to cope with the situation, rangers would continue to operate in Karachi", he said.

He said that no new agreement had been signed during talks with the MQM chief in London, and added that there was no secret agreement with the MQM nor had Mr Hussain put any condition or demand. Chaudhry Nisar said he had held talks with the MQM leadership on the basis of the previous agreement, and added that he had assured Mr Hussain that the agreement would be implemented. To a question, the petroleum minister said that talks with the MQM had been decisive and "I am sure our alliance with the MQM will continue despite various irritants." CASES: To a question, he said that he had assured Mr Hussain that fake cases against MQM leaders and workers would be withdrawn shortly. He said that Sindh chief minister had given approval for the withdrawal of many cases. "But we have made it clear to the MQM leadership that the government could not do anything to withdraw heinous cases against their leaders and workers," he said. REFERENCE: No operation to end 'no-go' areas: Nisar Bureau Report DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending: 25 April 1998 Issue : 04/17 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/25Apr98.html

LONDON, Sept 18: The first round of talks between Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Provincial Coordination Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on the issue of MQM’s rejoining the Sindh government remained inconclusive on Friday and MQM leaders said there was still a long way to go. "We have still a reasonable distance to cover,"MQM leader M. Anwar told reporters after the talks which ended around 2030 GMT (0030 PST). The second round will be held on Sunday. The day’s break has beenmade to enable the provincial coordination minister to consult Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on various issues. Chaudhry Nisar Ali has flown into London to hold emergency talks with the MQM leadership to save the falling Muslim League government in Sindh. However, MQM chief Altaf Hussain distanced himself from these talks and left it up to the MQM Rabita Committee members to decide whether or not to rejoin the Sindh government which is facing a no-confidence motion in the Assembly. Mr Altaf Hussain held an informal meeting with the minister before the talks at MQM’s International Secretariat in north-west London. He later told reporters that the issue of re-joining the government was not discussed during his meeting. The Rabita Committee members, who held four-hour-long talks with the Chaudhry Nisar included Rabita Committee members Anis Ahmad Qaimkhani, M.A. Jalil and Anis Ahmad, advocate. They were assisted by Senator Mustafa Kamal, Mohammad Anwar, chief organiser of MQM UK & Europe and Tariq Mir, joint chief organiser. The visit of Chaudhry Nisar Ali is attributed to the objective of saving the government in Sindh.

A no-confidence motion against Sindh Chief Minister Liaquat Jatoi, moved by opposition Pakistan People’s Party, is scheduled to be discussed on 23th and Chaudhry Nisar Ali’s had apparently come here with two clear objectives either to convince the MQM to rejoin the provincial government or at least stop lending its support to the no-confidence motion. Briefing reporters after the first round of talks, Chaudhry Nisar Ali said that he explained government’s viewpoint on various issues which were raised by the MQM members. "They (MQM’s) told me that they had quit the government because of the non-implementation or very slow implementation on some points of the accord." However, he said that he did not agree with the MQM’s claim. "On our side some think that we have been giving too many concessionsto the MQM and had been accepting their every demand." He said that another major hurdle in the progress of talks had been the clearance of no-go areas in Karachi. "I explained to them the government view point on this issue." Chaudhry Nisar said that MQM leaders also told him that one reason for quitting the government had been that they were not made equal partners in the Sindh government nor were they taken into confidence over the law and order situation in Karachi. "The MQM told me that it was because of this reason that their presence in the provincial cabinet was proving counter- productive for them". REFERENCE: MQM-Govt talks remain inconclusive Nasir Malick DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending: 19 September 1998 Issue:04/37 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/19Sep98.html#mqmg

KARACHI, Aug 14: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement quit the federal government on Friday in protest against on-going killings in the city. The MQM informed the visiting minister for provincial coordination, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, during more than two hours of talks at the Nine Zero, that its sole member in the federal cabinet, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, minister for industries and production, had tendered his resignation in protest against "unabated killing of MQM workers", the North Nazimabad tragedy, helplessness of the government to stop MQM workers'murder, remaining of the killers at large and PML's failure to implement agreements and assurances. The decision to quit the federal cabinet was taken by the Coordination Committee at its emergency meeting held at the Nine Zero soon after the brutal killing of 10 MQM workers on Wednesday night in North Nazimabad by" government agencies and terrorists on their pay rolls." In the light of this decision, Dr Siddiqui resigned from the cabinet on Friday and this was communicated to Chaudhry Nisar when the latter visited Nine Zero along with Chief Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Friday. Dr Siddiqui, who is in London these days after an official visit to the US, informed Chaudhry Nisar by phone at the Nine Zero :" I am talking to you as a former federal minister. Please inform Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about my decision to resign and that I will formally submit my resignation to him on returning home." Dr Siddiqui's withdrawal from the federal cabinet could be a prelude to quitting of the coalition in the province by the MQM. Sources said the MQM had given 48 hours to the government to honouri s commitments, failing which it might quit the provincial government as well. REFERENCE: Muttahida quits federal cabinet to protest killings Reporter DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending: 15 August 1998 Issue:04/32 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/15Aug98.html#mutt

LONDON, April 17: Talks between Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML) are moving in a positive direction and will arrive at a positive conclusion on Saturday, leaders of the two sides said here after Friday's meeting. "Things are moving towards an understanding and we hope matters will be resolved," MQM chief Altaf Hussain told reporters after the three-hour-long talks held at the Muttahida's International Secretariat in Edgware, north-west London. The PML leaders, Chaudhry Nisar and Sindh Chief Minister Liaquat Jatoi, also sounded optimistic about the outcome and hoped that the talks would end on a positive note. The next session of the second round will be held on Saturday at 11.30am.

He was the first to comment on the negotiations as he emerged from the venue along with PML leaders. Federal minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali, who is leading the government side, told reporters that another session would be held on Saturday and hopefully it would yield "some result". "Another session will be held tomorrow and I am confident that we will arrive at some positive conclusion." Chaudhry Nisar said during Friday talks, the two sides discussed a large number of issues, including the Muttahida's demand to get the "no-go areas" vacated. He said more discussion on the issue would be held during the Saturday session.

The minister said MQM chief Altaf Hussain gave an overview of the MQM-PML relationship. "It was an overall review of PML-MQM relationship of the last 10 years," he said. The government side, he added, placed before him PML's viewpoint on certain issues. "There was a complete consensus between the two sides that joint efforts to preserve the political and democratic process in the country should continue." Referring to differences between the two parties, Chaudhry Nisarsaid such misgivings and misunderstandings did occur between alliances but asserted that these should be removed in a "political manner." "The general tone and tenor (during the talks) was positive and friendly and reflected 10 years of relationship between the two parties," he said."You should see the expression on our faces to know about the atmosphere inside," a beaming minister said. ALTAF: Mutahhida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain said on Friday that the MQM was entering into talks with the government with an open mind but the result would depend on the intentions of the two sides. "Both sides are present here and they are here to resolve the problems and I would say it all depends on the intentions of both the sides," the MQM chief told reporters before entering into talks with the two-member PML team comprising federal minister forprovincial coordination, Chaudhry Nisar Ali and Sindh chief minister Liaquat Jatoi.

Mr Altaf said the two sides were here with good intentions to resolve the issue and that the Mutahhida was in favour of a solution. "We want to arrive at some conclusion, which will be beneficial for both of us as well as for democracy and the country," he emphasised. He said the meeting would discuss the main agenda i.e. the vacation of the no-go areas in Karachi from its rival Haqqiqi group. Chaudhry Nisar Ali said his party was here with high hopes. He said PML's alliance with Mutahhida was decade-old and had seen many ups and downs. "Invariably we have come out of difficult times and we are hopeful that even this time we will come out," he said. The talks started at 5.00pm London time (9.00pm Pakistan time).

Mr Altaf Hussain is leading his team at the talks which includes Senator Aftab Sheikh, Ms Nasreen Jaleel, Qazi Khalid, Dr Farooq Sattar and Federal Health Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Sindh Labour Minister Shoaib Bokhari. The first round of talks between Chaudhry Nisar Ali and Altaf Hussain on Wednesday did not yield any result and it was decided to hold second round of talks to be attended by Sindh chief minister Liaquat Jatoi and members of the MQM coordination committee. The MM meeting ended at 8.00am on Friday morning. REFERENCE: Final round of PML-MQM talks today Correspondent DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 18 April 1998 Issue : 04/16 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/18Apr98.html

ISLAMABAD, July 6: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has sought the full partner status with the PML in Sindh to "remove their differences and establish permanent peace in Karachi." A four-member MQM delegation headed by Senator Aftab Sheikh held a detailed meeting with the minister for petroleum and provincial coordination, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and Chief Minister Liaquat Jatoi on Monday and demanded the assurance that the MQM would be given full role in the decision making process. "We have told them today that they will have to ensure the MQM's full participation in the provincial affairs because of their position as active coalition partners," Dr Farooq Sattar. He told Dawn after the meeting that the situation in Karachi was fast deteriorating which needed the combined efforts of the PML and the MQM to achieve the desired result.

He regretted that the MQM had been kept completely out of the recently formed two high-level committees to supervise the affairs of the Sindh government. "They are not taking us into confidence on various issues nor are they ready to accept our recommendations to improve the law and order situation in Karachi," he said. "But they will have to share the authority with us in Sindh for running the provincial administration effectively," Dr Sattar asserted. Asked what was the response of Chauhdry Nisar and Mr Jatoi to the MQM's demands, he said certain assurances were once again given by them. "We do not want any bickering with our political allies and are still sincerely trying to sort out issues amicably so that the peace is restored to Karachi." REFERENCE: MQM wants full role in decision making Bureau Report DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 11 July 1998 Issue : 04/27 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/11Jul98.html#mqmw

Everybody on the opposition seemed to forget that it was during its tenure in the government that the army was sent to Karachi. Similarly, most of the cases against MQM workers and leaders were registered during its tenure. And when Chaudhry Nisar declared that the cases had been registered on the orders of the former army chief Asif Nawaz, wasn't he admitting that Nawaz Sharif was only a pawn in the hands of those who were actually running the affairs of the country. Chaudhry Nisar also informed the House that at one stage the MQM had agreed to hand over at least six "terrorists" from its ranks to the government. One failed to understand whether Nisar was favouring the MQM or confirming its involvement in acts of terrorism, which it denies even today. The opposition members kept on proclaiming that the budget was of little consequence compared to the Karachi situation, but were not willing to withdraw the cut motions. Their main demand was to hold an immediatedebate followed by a joint session of parliament after the budget to discuss the Karachi situation. The government and the speaker were ready to agree to a debate provided the opposition withdrew their cut motions. However, on the issue of a joint session, it was not ready to make a commitment.

The open offer of the ministers to the opposition for initiating a serious dialogue and its request for cooperation on Karachi was not reciprocated. Speaker Yousaf Raza Gilani was in the most difficult situation trying to balance himself on a tight rope. He was not willing to violate the rules and simultaneously trying to appease the opposition. When Gohar Ayub misquoted the precedence, he at once announced that if there was a precedence he would allow the opposition to move itsresolution seeking suspension of the rules. Deputy Law Minister Raza Rabbani, could hardly veil his annoyance with Gilani. "There is also a precedence of passing a constitutional amendment in 12 minutes when Gohar Ayub was the speaker, will you follow that, too? " he shouted. "It was an irregularity committed by the thengovernment which was acceded to by the then speaker," Rabbani said referring to the Karachi debate which was held in 1992 during the budget session. But the speaker had already made up his mind not to take the blame of disallowing a debate on Karachi and easily shifted it to the treasury benches by allowing Achakzai to move the resolution for suspending the business.

Achakzai, instead of reading a simple resolution calling for the suspension of the rules to discuss the Karachi situation, tried to play with words to give an impression as if the resolution was meant to call for a joint sitting of parliament, but his move was pre-empted by the speaker who did not allow him to go any further. Though the move was rejected by the majority vote in the first place but the opposition called for a division during which the resolution was defeated by 106 to 57 votes. The opposition staged a token walk out as a protest. Interestingly opposition leader Nawaz Sharif who attended both the morning and afternoon sessions, did not utter a word on Karachi. Some parliamentary observers felt that the PML's insistence on convening a joint session of parliament betrayed a lingering fear its much-trumpeted conference on Karachi might not create the impact it desires in the absence of the PPP and veteran leaders like Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Maulana Fazalur Rehman. A joint session could also provide an opportunity to the MQM which is not represented in the National Assembly but has a few senators, to present its side of the story, which the opposition hoped would embarrass the government. But Sharif is faced with a dilemma. He had assured Altaf Hussain that he would get the Karachi seats vacated by his partymen to pave the way for holding fresh elections but he has not been able to convince his MNAs to resign. And there is every fear that this issue would crop up at the Karachi conference and the PML might find itself in quite a spot. REFERENCE: *From Press Gallery : Playing with the sentiments' Nasir Malick DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending: 29 June,1995 Issue:01/25 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1995/29Je95.html

Sources told Dawn the prime minister had summoned ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Majeed Malik to discuss the Karachi unrest. "The incidents involving killings of army jawans on Sunday and attacks on senior officials of Rangers and army personnel on Monday came under specific discussion," they said. There were unconfirmed reports that one of the three ministers might visit Karachi in the next few days. But what officials confirmed here was that the federal government had established contact with the Sindh authorities to express concern over the Monday incident. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan briefed the prime minister of his talks with MQM chief Altaf Hussain and his view point on the whole situation. The opposition's move to get in touch with the MQM to form some kind of political understanding also came under discussion. REFERENCE: President, PM discuss Karachi situation DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending: 01 August 1998 Issue : 04/30 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/01Aug98.html#pres

ISLAMABAD, June 27: Hashimuz Zafar for whose release MQM had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the government at a press conference, held at the PID press centre on Tuesday, claimed that the MQM wanted to create a general desperation where the people of Karachi would be left with no other option but to support the demand of a separate province.”The present spate of terrorism will continue till March 1996 when the MQM has planned to put forth the demand of holding a referendum on the issue of a separate province,” he alleges. “If the government does not accept the demand for a referendum, the MQM would raise the issue at the international level and project it as a denial of the right of self-determination for creating a parity- between Karachi and Kashmir,” he said. Hashimuz Zafar in this regard referred to an open letter of Altaf Hussain of 1994 in which he had reportedly hinted that “agencies” wanted to create Sindhu Desh and greater Punjab and make Karachi a satellite state of a greater Punjab.

Obviously such a situation would not be acceptable to the people of Karachi and they would prefer independence rather than becoming a satellite state of a greater Punjab, he said. Given the geographic importance of Karachi, Western and regional powers would willingly throw their weight behind the demand and force a solution of both the Kashmir and Karachi issues, he added. Zafar accused a former minister and brother of a serving general Chaudhry Nisar Ali, for leaking details of the army operation in Sindh to Altaf Hussain. He also alleged that leaders of the ANP in Karachi had been supplying arms to the MQM. He also named some PML MNAs from Karachi as the financiers of the MQM. Zafar seemed well prepared for the press conference. He had notes with him and in a very systematic way he not only gave details of his crimes but also briefed a hostile press about the MQM’s operational mechanism, its alleged Indian connections, strategy and ultimate goals.He was very confident and conducted the press conference like a seasoned media manager. He also gave full details about eight terrorist groups and their area of operation at present active in Karachi. Hashimuz Zafar, 25, and resident of house No C-17 Sir Syed Town, North Karachi, said he had joined the All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation at the age of 17 when he was studying in Government College of Technology. He confessed to involvement in numerous crimes, Including the murder of MQM Chairman Azim Ahmed Tariq. The organisational set-up of the MQM, which comprised units, sectors, zones and main centre at Nine-Zero, he said, was disbanded before the military operation. Now an underground information centre was maintaining a link with 22 different sectors. Some time Altaf Hussain, through Nadeem Nusrat, issues orders to the sectors-in-charge for carrying out different operations on mobile phones. Pagers were also being used to maintain a link and convey messages, he said. The sector in charge of Landhi, Amir Siddique, and the sector in charge of Malir, Qamar Ghalib, are currently manning the information centre,” he claimed. Giving details of various groups active at the sector level, he said the Khalid Taqi Butt group was active in the old city area, Liaquatabad, Lines Area, Society, Clifton, Defence and PIB Colony. The Farooq Dada group was operating in Pak Colony, Baldia Town, Nazimabad, and Gulbahar. The Faheem Commando group is active in Federal B. Area, North Karachi and Nazimabad. Tahir Rafi, Arif Qureshi, Khuram and 10 other boys were the members of the Mubeen Thunta group controlling the Malir and Model Town areas. Then there were other groups, like those headed by Javed Khan, Javed Michael, Asfar, Khaliq Anjum, Kamal Ansari alias Par, and Muhammad Shahid. The MQM, he said, was regularly maintaining a hit list which was update from time to time. Names of the members of MQM Haqiqi political rivals, defectors and known police officers were on this list. Altaf Hussain, he said, personally checked this but list and gave approval. However, a source disclosed that the programme of press conferences would continue for quite some time as a number of MQM “activists” had been arrested in Islamabad during the last one month. One by one all of these would be presented before the press and electronic media. REFERENCE: MQM activist ‘unveils’ party’s plans Bureau Report Week Ending : 29 June, 1995 Issue : 01/25 DAWN WIRE SERVICE http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1995/29Je95.html